‘Green’ cement firm at risk

IRELAND’S only ‘green’ cement maker will go out of business at a potential cost of millions of euro a year to the State if EU regulations are not changed, an Oireachtas committee was warned yesterday.

Ecocem managing director Donal O’Riain told the Oireachtas Environment Committee the company is being penalised as it is excluded from an EU scheme which effectively subsidised cement companies with higher pollution levels.

Mr O’Riain said if the company closed, a less environmentally-friendly concern would take over its production. He said the State would have to pay extra pollution penalties of around e6 million per year.

He wants the Government to allow his company to be included in the EU Emissions Trading Scheme when it is revised.

Cement Manufacturers Association of Ireland chairman Jim Nolan told the committee he believed Ecocem was receiving help under another EU initiative.